Button contact

ABSTRACT

An electrical button contact member on a dielectric carrier member is disclosed. The button contact serves to couple a lead wire to an electrically-operated component such as a rocket. A tab member on the button contact insertably receives a terminal on another lead wire to short circuit the component. The button contact is assembled and clinched to the carrier member thereby forming an electrical connector assembly whereafter the assembly is snapped into place on the ends of a series of rocket fins. This assembly serves to hold the rocket fins in place, and after firing, the button contact and carrier member separate from the fins to allow the fins to move radially and guide the rocket.

United States Patent [1 1 Renshaw, Jr.

[451 Sept. 4, 1973 I BUTTON CONTACT [75] Inventor: Floyd Harold Renshaw, Jr., Hershey,

[52] US. Cl. 339/119 R, 339/220 R, 339/276 T l,325,863 3/l963 France 339/258 S Primary Examiner-Richard E. Moore Attorney-Curtis, Morris and Safford, William J. Keating, Ronald D. Grefe, William l-lintze, Adrian 1. La Rue, Frederick W. Raring and Jay L. Seitchik [5 7 ABSTRACT An electrical button contact member on a dielectric carrier member is disclosed. The button contact serves to couple a lead wire to an electrically-operated component such as a rocket. A tab member on the button contact insertably receives a terminal on another lead wire to short circuit the component. The button contact is assembled and clinched to the carrier member thereby forming an electrical connector assembly whereafter the assembly is snapped into place on the ends of a series of rocket fins. This assembly serves to hold the rocket fins in place, and after firing, the button contact and carrier member separate from the fins to allow the fins to move radially and guide the rocket.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures Pmcmmw' SHEET 1 Bf 2 INVENTOR FLOYD H. RENSHAW,JR. BY M 9. 1%

Pmmiusir' I 3.157. 215

SHEEI 2 0F 2 \LW INVENTOR FLOYD H. REN$HAW,JR. 2255 BY 1 I 9 jag BUTTON CONTACT This invention relates to electrical terminal contacts of the type adapted to be secured to dielectric carrier members, and further adapted for use as button contacts. The carrier members are usually secured to electrically-operated components such as rockets.

BACKGROUND Electrically-fired ballistics, missiles or rockets generally have contact means on the trailing or fin ends thereof by which the rockets are fired from launchers. The contact means is generally in the form of a button contact and is assembled to a dielectric carrier member such that a lead wire extends from the assembly to the SUMMARY It is an object of this invention to-provide button contact means for electrically-operated component devices.

Another object is to provide button contact means with wire-receiving means on one side thereof to receive a lead wire, and with terminal-receiving means on the other side thereof to receive an associate terminal.

Still another object is the provision of the above button contact which is fixed to a dielectric carrier member to define an assembly, which is then secured to a series of fin members to hold the fin members in proper position.

Other objects and attainments of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed-description when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which there is shown and described an illustrative embodiment of the invention; it is to be understood, however, that this embodiment is not intended to be exhaustive nor limiting of the invention but is given for purposes of illustration in order that others skilled in the art may fully understand the invention and the principles thereof and the manner of applying it in practical use so that they may modify it in various forms, each as may best suited to the conditions of a particular use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective, fragmentary and exploded view of a button contact, dielectric carrier partly in section and fins according to this invention;

FIG 2 is a view showing the button contact'secured to the carrier to define an assembly in position on the fins; 7

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the carrier member;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan viewof the carrier member; and

FIG. 5 is a view taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS:

Referring to FIG. 1, a button contact comprises a generally disc-shaped conductive metal member 2 having a flat and round contact 4 with a wire-receiving barrel member 6 coextending from the periphery thereof, and a terminal-receiving tab or blade member.8,cocxtending from the periphery of contact 4 opposite barrcl member 6. Two downwardly-directed tines l0 and I2 are formed adjacent barrel 6, and two downwardlydirected tines l4 and 16 are formed adjacent blade 8. Tines 10, 12, 14, and 16 serve as securing means to secure the button contact to a carrier member 18.

Dielectric carrier member 18 has a generally cupshaped configuration. A series of at least four upstanding ribs 22 extend out from an inner surface 20 and from the sidewall 19 of member 18 and converge at the center. Ribs 22 serve to strengthen the carrier 18. A rectilinear recess 24 extends across the outer surface 21 of member 18 and it merges at each end into wider recesses 26 and 28. Small rectangular openings 30 and 32 are formed in recess 26, and similar openings 34 and 36 are formed in recess 28. Openings 30, 32, 34 and 36 serve to receive tines 10, 12, 14 and 16 respectively of button contact 2 thereby securing contact 2 in position on the carrier member. An axial hole 38 through the center of button contact 2 serves to allow a wire to pass from barrel 6 through the member 18 and to the rocket.

Referring particularly to FIG. 4, a series of four dual embossments 40 are formed on the inside surface of sidewall 19 of member 18. The space 41 between embossments engages a notch 44 in fins 46vto frictionally hold the spacer onto fins 46 and to hold fins 46 in their normally inoperative position.

The parts are assembled such that a lead wire LW is inserted through hole 38 in member 18 whereafter the end of the wire is stripped of a pre-determined length of insulation. The bared conductor is crimped to wire barrel 6 such that wire LW extends inwardly towards the center of member 18. A short portion of lead wire LW which extends between barrel 6 and hole 38 effectively lays in recess 24 such that button contact 2 lies flat on member 18, this arrangement protects the wire and the crimped connection. Tines 10, 12, 14 and 16 extend through their respective openings 30, 32, 34 and 36 and are bent over the bottom edge thereof. This arrangement holds the contact to the carrier. Barrel 6 lies in one of the wider recesses 26 or 28 while blade member 8 lies in the other so that barrel 6 and tab member 8 are disposed below contact 4 so as not to interfere therewith. Carrier 18 is then snapped onto fins 46, as described above, to complete the assembly. With recess 24 extending between recesses 26, 28, button contact 2 can be secured on carrier 18 without orientation because lead wire LW can be placed in recess 24 on either side of hole 38.

Lead wire LW extends from barrel 6 of button contact 2 through carrier 18 and through the center of fins 46. The other end (not shown) of lead wire LW engages an appropriate electrical terminal on the rocket.

Terminal-receiving blade member 8 on button contact 2 serves to insert-ably receive a conventional receptacle type terminal R, as shown. The lead wire LW ex particular embodiment of the invention, which is shown and described herein, is intended as merely illustrative and not as restrictive of the invention.

The invention is claimed in accordance with the following:

1. An electrical connector assembly for mounting on movable members of an electrically-operated member comprising a dielectric carrier member having a substantially flat outer surface which is provided with recess means therein and an opening extending substantially centrally therethrough, a button contact means having a substantially round contact member and conductor-connecting means extending outwardly from the periphery of said contactmember, conductor means connected to said conductor-connecting means and having a portion disposed in said recess means along with said conductor-connecting means while the other portion extends through said opening, means provided by said button contact means and said carrier member securing said button contact means on said carrier member on said flat outer surface, and means provided by said carrier member for engaging said movable members to maintain said'movable members in a normally-inoperative position.

2. An electrical connector assembly according to claim 2 wherein said carrier member has a cup-shaped configuration.

3. An electrical connector assembly according to claim 2 wherein said securing means comprise tine means on said button contact means extending through apertures in said carrier member and in engagement with an inner surface of said carrier member.

4. An electrical connector assembly according to claim 2 wherein said round contact member has a tab member extending outwardly from the periphery of said round contact member and being disposed in said recess means.

5. An electrical connector assembly according to claim 5 wherein said recess meansincludes larger recess means at ends of said recess means in which said conductor-connecting means and said tab member are disposed.

6. An electrical connector assembly comprising a cup-shaped dielectric carrier member having recess means in an outer flat surface and an opening extending therethrough in communication with said recess means, contact means having a substantially round contact member extending along said outer flat surface and a conductor-connecting member extending outwardly from a periphery of said contact member and being disposed in said recess means, conductor means connected to said conductor-connecting member and extending along said recess means and through'said opening,and means provided by said contact means and said carrier member securing said contact means on said carrier member. 

1. An electrical connector assembly for mounting on movable members of an electrically-operated member comprising a dielectric carrier member having a substantially flat outer surface which is provided with recess means therein and an opening extending substantially centrally therethrough, a button contact means having a substantially round contact member and conductor-connecting means extending outwardly from the periphery of said contact member, conductor means connected to said conductor-connecting means and having a portion disposed in said recess means along with said conductor-connecting means while the other portion extends through said opening, means provided by said button contact means and said carrier member securing said button contact means on said carrier member on said flat outer surface, and means provided by said carrier member for engaging said movable members to maintain said movable members in a normally-inoperative position.
 2. An electrical connector assembly according to claim 2 wherein said carrier member has a cup-shaped configuration.
 3. An electrical connector assembly according to claim 2 wherein said securing means comprise tine means on said button contact means extending through apertures in said carrier member and in engagement with an inner surface of said carrier member.
 4. An electrical connector assembly according to claim 2 wherein said round contact member has a tab member extending outwardly from the periphery of said round contact member and being disposed in said recess means.
 5. An electrical connector assembly according to claim 5 wherein said recess means includes larger recess means at ends of said recess means in which said conductor-connecting means and said tab member are disposed.
 6. An electrical connector assembly comprising a cup-shaped dielectric carrier member having recess means in an outer flat surface and an opening extending therethrough in communication with said recess means, contact means having a substantially round contact member extending along said outer flat surface and a conductor-connecting member extending outwardly from a periphery of said contact member and being disposed in said recess means, conductor means connected to said conductor-connecting member and extending along said recess means and through said opening, and means provided by said contact means and said carrier member securing said contact means on said carrier member. 